Spirit Ginseng

"Excellent! Since Master Zhou has spoken, I'll give him some face! Brothers, let's go!"

Qingwen Long gritted his teeth, his expression grim as he uttered those perfunctory words before turning and leading his men away.

The surrounding crowd let out a jeer.

Qingwen Long, fleeing in disgrace under everyone's gaze, flushed with anger, his pride deeply wounded.

However, he didn't stop, instead quickening his pace to lead his men away.

Although he had the backing of the Black Tiger Gang and acted with impunity in the market, bullying and dominating, he also knew who he could and couldn't afford to offend.

Especially since he had suffered a loss a year ago. At that time, when Zhou Weilong was establishing his martial arts school, he had gone there intending to teach this unruly outsider a lesson.

As a result, his iron staff weapon was crushed right in front of him, which instead boosted the other man's reputation.

That incident had genuinely terrified him.

But it was the same last time, and it was the same this time!

His pride had been wounded repeatedly.

With the old and new grudges, Qingwen Long's face was so dark it looked like water could be squeezed from it, and the malice in his heart was almost overwhelming!

"Big brother, that guy surnamed Zhou, relying on his martial strength, is humiliating us like this. Are we just going to let it go?!"

A subordinate who followed behind stepped forward, speaking indignantly.

"How about I go burn down his damn Weilong Martial Arts School when it gets dark?"

"Let's see how arrogant he can be then!"

"No, don't act rashly!"

Qingwen Long's face twitched slightly, a ferocious expression appearing.

"Don't worry, that guy surnamed Zhou won't be able to jump around for much longer!"

"For the past year, with that guy surnamed Zhou opening his martial arts school and teaching disciples, those country bumpkins who joined the school have learned a few farming tricks. They've refused to pay protection fees and have injured our gang members, causing so much trouble for us, the Black Tiger Gang!"

"The gang leader and the others definitely won't stand by and do nothing!"

"We'll go back now, report the matter, and wait for the gang leader to make a decision. Once the gang decides to deal with that guy surnamed Zhou, we'll have our vengeance!"

Qingwen Long gritted his teeth and said fiercely.

Among them, Yang Qingyun, who had clashed with him earlier, was also now the target of his anger and had been added to his blacklist for revenge!

"Qingyun, please don't blame me for overstepping. This person is a mid-level leader in the Black Tiger Gang in this town. Although his strength is not great, killing him would be easy, but the Black Tiger Gang leader, Sitting Tiger, is powerful. He reached the mid Viscera Refining Realm many years ago, and after years of refinement, he is now unfathomable!"

"When you beat a dog, you have to consider its owner. Ultimately, we have to give the other party some face."

Zhou Weilong, having sensed Yang Qingyun's fleeting killing intent, spoke to appease and explain.

"So that's how it is. Thank you for the reminder, Brother Zhou!"

Yang Qingyun feigned understanding, but inwardly he was somewhat dismissive.

He knew without a doubt that after suffering such a loss of face, this kind of low-level scumbag would surely harbor hatred in his heart. His retreat was merely a temporary submission forced by the circumstances.

Once an opportunity arose, he would definitely retaliate viciously and bite back.

For such petty individuals who held grudges and sought to stab you in the back, it was best to kill them cleanly and decisively.

However, it was good that Master Zhou had intervened.

As a newcomer, unfamiliar with the place, he should first settle down for a while.

He would first use the spoils he collected from Black Wind Mountain to steadily improve his Martial Path Realm.

Having lived in this world for thirty years in his previous life, he knew very well that only strength was the foundation for deciding everything.

The few of them left the market and entered the city.

Yang Qingyun declined Zhou Weilong's invitation to stay at the martial arts school.

He had too many secrets, and he didn't lack money for the time being, so it wasn't suitable for him to stay at someone else's house.

So, he just asked for his help in finding a relatively quiet, independent courtyard to rent in the city.

According to Yang Qingyun's plan, he would likely stay here for some time.

He would improve his strength as much as possible and, after gaining a certain degree of self-preservation ability, he would then seek out some opportunities and fortunate encounters from his memories.

After everything was settled, Wang Zhu, who had been following behind and helping with odd jobs, approached Yang Qingyun and presented him with a black wooden box, about a foot long.

Bowing his head and begging for forgiveness, he said:

"Young Master Yang, at the market today, I met a mountain villager. That villager possessed an Old Mountain Ginseng, about three hundred years old. He didn't dare to show it easily at the market, fearing it would be stolen. Coincidentally, his family needed livestock, so he privately asked me if I wanted to trade. I remembered that you asked us to search for some medicinal herbs before, and I thought this three-hundred-year-old Old Mountain Ginseng should be useful to you, so I took the liberty of exchanging two horses with the mountain villager."

"It was also during the transaction that the scoundrel named Qingwen Long noticed, causing trouble for you, Young Master. Please forgive me!"

"There's no need for that. This is your accomplishment, so why would I blame you?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Qingyun's eyes lit up. He took the wooden box and, at the same time, encouraged and appeased him.

He hadn't expected to miss out on a good find at the market, only for Wang Zhu, whom he'd tasked with handling the spoils of war, to stumble upon one instead. Talk about a twist of fate.

But as he opened the wooden box, and got a clear look at the ginseng inside, his pupils contracted sharply, his words catching in his throat for a moment.

He slowly closed the box and asked calmly, "Do you know where this mountain ginseng was found by that villager?"

"Not exactly. In our chat, he mentioned he was hunting in the mountains and was chased by two wild boars. He accidentally stumbled into a forbidden area deep in the mountains where the Mountain God resides. The two wild boars were killed by the Mountain God in the blink of an eye, and as he fled in a panic, he discovered this ginseng and brought it out."

Wang Zhu thought for a moment before answering.

Yang Qingyun nodded, his expression unreadable.

"This ginseng will be of great use to me! You've rendered a great service. Tell me, what reward do you want? Gold and silver, or something else?"

Wang Zhu was overjoyed upon hearing this, his tone a mix of eagerness and shyness.

"I have a son at home who has always wanted to learn martial arts. Could I possibly ask Young Master Yang for a few pointers on farming techniques?"

"Certainly. Bring him to the city, and I will guide him a bit."

Yang Qingyuan paused for a moment, his gaze becoming rather meaningful.

"Go find that villager. If you can locate the place where that Mountain God appears, come back and tell me. Not only will I teach your child a move or two, but I can also refine some elixirs that will guarantee your child directly enters the Martial Arts Entry Realm and becomes a true martial artist!"

"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you, Young Master!"

"Young Master, please rest assured! I'll find that place for you, even if it costs me my life!"

Wang Zhu exclaimed with great joy, patting his chest repeatedly as he made his promise.

Yang Qingyun nodded, and waved him away.

Only after Wang Zhu had left, filled with joy, was Yang Qingyun alone in the room again.

Yang Qingyun reopened the wooden box, gazing at the old mountain ginseng lying quietly within, enveloped in a faint white mist, with a crystal-clear thread connecting its stem and leaves. His eyes deepened, and his heart couldn't help but race with excitement:

"This is Spirit Ginseng! Spirit Ginseng that only grows in places with abundant Spiritual Qi!"

"How could something like this appear in an era where Spiritual Qi has not yet resurged?!"